Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, will be meeting with school principals in Dominica concerning a suggestion he made at a recently concluded symposium on crime and violence in the region which was held in Trinidad and Tobago.
At the event, he argued that education reform is important in the fight against crime.
He pointed out that the education system should not only concentrate on students just passing exams but also on their development.
“Our school systems now are focused solely on preparing students for examinations, external examination, national examinations and there is absolutely no time in the five hours or so that the students spend in the school setting for anything to do with the welfare and well-being of the children,” he stated at the symposium. “We don’t take time to understand where they come from, where they live, their economic circumstance and to appreciate their behaviors in the classroom.”
At a press conference on Friday morning, the prime minister reiterated his position on the matter and said he will be meeting with principals of government schools to discuss his recommendation and observations.
“As a matter of fact, I intend to meet principals of government schools within the next two weeks to discuss my observations and recommendations on how I believe we can improve the conducive environment for our students to be wholesome children in our society,” he stated.
According to the prime minister, his proposal found favor with Heads of Governments and other attendees of the symposium.
He stated the narrow focus of the present education system can lead to neglect of essential life skills, emotional intelligence, and social development.
“All of which are crucial for the development of well-rounded individuals who can positively contribute to our society,” he said. “I continue to call on all stakeholders, parents, guardians, the clergy, and the business community to take responsibility for the care and support of our children.”
Skerrit stated that he has previously discussed those matters with education administrators and he will be again placing the issue of curriculum reform on the agenda for consideration, consultation, and implementation.
He said that the Dominican public will be updated accordingly on the matter.
“I think it is quite fitting and the right time for Dominica to take the lead on this matter,” Skerrit said. “And I intend certainly to take the lead on this matter of education reform across the region.”
The double doctorate dude was a school teacher and must know that children leave what they learn. They learn from everything which happens in their surroundings. These surroundings include much more than the home. They same way they look up to their parents at home, they look up to social, political and religious leaders as well.
For the past 22 years they have known Skerritt as the only political leader of the country. What have they heard and seen the country’s leader associated with? a lot of corruption. News of international criminals appointed by the country’s leader as ambassadors of Dominica, he even harboured Monfared in Dominica. Bin bobol, land transfer scandal, French passport matter, treating and bribery at elections, unexplained mega wealth on a meager salary, kidnapped Choksi saga, Madweke feasco, emasculation of police force, highty-tighty living on tax payers expense, lying to the citizens over and over. Children live what they learn. Teachers can’t fix this.
So the “me-the-people” prime Minister thinks he alone has the answer to the crime situation affecting the country and now wants the school principals and teachers to implement his novel idea. Upon all the things teachers have to do he wants them to become psychologists, sociologists, behavioral therapists? Is he going to provide them with the necessary training and increase their pay for the increased workload?
He needs to be told that the root cause of the “new” attitude towards crime in the island came about with his ascension to lead the country after the passing of Pierre Charles. He has his “Me-the-people” corrupt tentacles in every facet of government and he’s weakened every institution of public good. His wife boasts publicly of having her “navy seals”. Where is the electoral reform? He harbors and pals with international criminals and the youth know of it. All these corrupt scandals are what encourage the youth to follow in his corrupt footsteps. Teachers can’t…
30 comments 12 posted by a pair of aholes.
…and one comment posted by a madman who continues to support the CM.
Can a foul-mouthed, amoral, shady person lead youngsters to a life of virtue and righteousness?
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
when i went to school there was lots of violence, among fellow students and between rival schools. However, students know not to ever get caught in the act. Even out of uniform. Because we held the value that even out of uniform, you are a representative of that school. Our problem is that we wanted to be like everyone else and adopt the universal education system. we banned corporal punishment in addition to parents wanting to fight with teachers for disciplining their child. When i went to high school students feared principals and certain teachers. now, its the teachers that fear the children. Bring back physical punishment. cane them when necessary. spare the rob and spoil the child.
That’s because corporal punishment was administered by abusers.
If school aged children and young adults are to depart from their wayward and violent ways, they need HOPE of a fulfilling future.
Many have worked studiously at school, college and even university but only to find out that good paying jobs are as scarce as oases in a desert. Many leave school without any employable skill or qualification. With no HOPE of gainful employment they turn to a life of crime.
No student should leave school without a skill. It could be hair braiding, barber, carpenter, mason, plumber, decorator, tailor, seamstress, dancer/entertainer, chef, etc.
It is said that a person needs just three (3) things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to HOPE for. Happy people seldom commit crime. Give the young something to do ( jobs) and something to HLPE for ( financial security for the future). It is deeds that count and not empty talk.
The world over; school curriculum are based on academical science; home etiquette, and how children should conducted themselves should be something taught at home by their parent!
How can some teachers with absolutely no home training especially in these days teach children how to conduct themselves when they were not subjected to such culture?
When children of my generation, grew up; before we left home for school, we were always taught to tell the truth, we should never lie, or take (steal) what does not belong to us; and respect the older people.
Even in our home when we would like something to eat, we could not just take whatever it was and eat it without our parents permission!
Our parents taught us to stay out of trouble, for the consequences could mean going to prison, and our reputation lost, not only that what we did, as far as involving in violence would have an effect on our parents also.
Teachers did not have to influence our behavior outside of the class room!
I can guarantee Skerrit that if he gives the people true reform crime and violence will drop by at least 50% the same year. It is the presence of the corruption of this Roosevelt Skerrit administration that has corrupted everything on island and that creates a perfect foundation for crime and violence according to James 4:1-4 “Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. “
It’s sad to say but truth is the life style of greed introduced by Roosevelt is the root cause for violence on island and no principal, pastor, police commissioner or he himself can stop it
I like the part in James 4:1-4 that reads “ You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. “
Let’s not forget that when Roosevelt Skerrit was planting all of his evil seeds that we all knew would be of serious concern later, he told the nation that it makes no sense to go ask God for something when they can come straight to Roosevelt Skerrit and get it right away. Skerrit knew damn well that when we pray and ask God tomorrow we can testify of God’s goodness. But when we get it from Skerrit we must do what he demands of us. So you see the root cause of violence?
Did this hypocrite called Roosevelt Skerrit, ever meet with school principals before he legalized marijuana? Since after he legalized it I am sure he has seen how our young school boys are smoking weed and dropping out of school. Has the hypocrite since met with the principals or at least his education and youth affairs ministers to combat drugs and alcohol? Does the hypocrite not know that some of our young boys who should have been in school are used to transport drugs to neighboring islands? Has he addressed this with principals? Does the hypocrite not know that drugs play a leading role in the violence we see on island? Maybe instead of meeting with parents Skerrit, the hypocrite, should meet with friends that are drug dealers to see how to effectively combat drugs, violence and crime
@The Old Prophet
That’s a very good point, when you mentioned if he contacted principals before he made legal those marijuana portions!!!!
Sure he didn’t!!!
Every human life is sacred. The murder rate in Dominica was negligible until Roosevelt became sheriff. In recent times, we have watched in shock, the unprecedented rise in crime. Murders, rapes, child sexual and physical abuse, money laundering, drug trafficking, embezzlement of public funds, and this list can be extended infinitum.
How can an individual like Roosevelt who has dismembered the police service; demolished the electoral system; dismantled the judiciary, divided the citizenry and detached himself from the suffering of the people, correct these aberrations? Can Satan correct sins?
To reset the compass and maneuver ship of state on its right course, we have to throw the captain overboard in the stormy seas. Then and only then will the ship be able to sail into safe harbour.
Teach them history, introduce them to their Ancestors who dug up truths of how we got defeated and our captors wrote their history, totally destroyed their superior EDUCATION and RELIGIOUS systems.
Educate them for future. Every group has done it: – Chinese, Euro-Jews, India, Arabs, except us; still with the Ed & religion of our captors.
Efforts in crime fighting today ‘say no to drugs, no to guns’ never work.
It must be an introduction to our Ancestors who have corrected lies that indoctrinated us to where WE are today with Christianity and eurocentric education. No different from what other groups of humans have done and now enjoying the fruits of that connection.
“A People Without A Knowledge of their History is Like A Tree Without Roots”.
Ancestors: Ivan Van Sertima who corrected the Columbus lies, presented linguistic, agricultural, religious evidence etc.etc; Dr. Ben Jochannan, evidence of Africa the Mother of Civilization, Eric Williams, John H Clarke, and…
…and others, a list too exhausive for one chapter, yet we are unaware. A whole library of Africans/Blacks who thru countless years of research have presented our history from the perspective of an African/Black man and not just accounts of European historians.
Otherwise, we are doomed to stay where and how we are with this Eurocentric knowledge of who we are, hence the high crime rates. The best crime-solving mechanism is one when we are together in this aspect of LIFE. It is imperative!
This CM is a Jack of all trades and Master of none. Only in DA he would get away with it.
Undoubtedly, absolutely, 10 000% factual. The one thing the Evil One does expertly well is to LIE. Here is this uncaring miscreant over working but under paying the teachers and tasking them with more awesome responsibilities.
Has this man had an overnight epiphany? How long has he being at the apex of government? (20 straight years) This talk is to suck up most of the oxygen in the local news media. Roosevelt has even got some regional coverage. That’s his primary objective – attention.
There is a multiplicity of reasons for the rapid escalation in crime. However, one of the main reasons is economic. Nothing stops a bullet like a good paying job. It these young people were gainfully employed earning good wages, crime would be at an all time low. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Starvation/hunger not sin, is the parent of modern crime.
There were no surveys, no research, no data, but on his way to Trinidad figured he could divert to education reform and depending on the few response would come talk about home. What I heard is a man pushing a socialist agenda and diverting attention from himself and others and their encouragement of criminals by their actions. Our parents had less education and were not involved in crime. As a matter of fact many could not read and write but worked hard and were productive. That ideology of elderly use for votes served you well. The con artist want to start education reform. Any education reform should focus on building the capacity for our people to be self sufficient, creative and innovative with ability to harness our natural and human resources to grow wealth, improve health , protect the environment, and stop the intellectual leakage. May I suggest the first lesson to teach is the effects of corruption lies and deception.
Skerrit should tell them how to stop violence by turning every school on island into a CBI passport selling hub just like Kempinski
Stupes tan. If Dominica was a real place school principal’s would go to the meeting and ten minutes later all would walk out in protest and live Skerrit there as a lunatic
So true, so very true…
Look out for about ten more articles on DNO based on the vacuous statements Roosevelt ventilated at his disinformation conference.
The serious issues like job opportunities, the myriad of health problems, the low productivity in the public sector, transparency with the CBI program.
Lastly, Dominica has the biggest pot bellied government per capita in the western hemisphere with the lowest productivity. No surprise the country is languishing at the bottom wallowing in decadence and self pity.
I forgot to add this to the end of the second paragraph: ‘are of little or no significance to the megalomaniac.
Look at this: Roosevelt is not the Minister of Education, I think Alfred, that puppet, I hope she is nothing to me in she might inherited that via marriage, I must ask cousin Lois Robinson about that cause he knows more than I do!
In any event, in a situation where government wish to make changes to the nation school curriculum, that should be discoursed by an educational governing body such as a superintendent, and other board members.
In this case I would think that government Roosevelt Skerrit, should challenge that through waste of time puppet Alfred, which would be the appropriate to go about it, and then she would have instructed the principals of both government owned secondary, and elementary schools how to proceed.
In this case Roosevelt has no power over any private educational institution “SMA, the Convent, and Wesleyan High if it still exist, can’t tell them what to teach!
And so, thus lies the problem, with Roosevelt talking bull-crap!
I have forwarded to the Prime Minister the following DNO Commentaries.
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/?s=life+beyond+common+entrance
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/?s=my+report+card
I have been calling for education reform here and elsewhere in the Caribbean for the last 50 years.
ADMIN, The opening illustrations have been removed from these commentaries in your archives. I would be grateful if they could be replaced as they are an essential to the message they contain.
ADMIN: Due to a techincal issue these images are no longer available to us. If you still have those images or have suitable replacements you can email them to [email protected] along with the specific article to which you would like us to add the images.
@Roger Burnett
This man called Skerrit is not only wicked, but he hates the young people of Dominica with a passion. A parliamentarian for 23years, and he was even education minister. Why would so many other people see the need for educational reform except him???
Reasons why i so often refer to him as evil, wicked and satanic!!
“This man called Skerrit is not only wicked, but he hates the young people of Dominica with a passion.”
That statement is not completely accurate. The man hates Dominicans of all ages, the young, middle aged, and old aged particularly if you do not kiss his derriere.
It is an incontrovertible fact that he has an affinity for foreigners especially the Chinese. People of Middle Eastern descent are next in line ( Syrians, Pakistanis, and those of the Arabian peninsula).
This is further evidence of his disdain for Dominicans. He has referred to native Dominicans as hungry, stale soup, old buggies, stupid.
Roosevelt – A more deplorable, anti-patriotic Dominican you will never find.
As I have said before and will reiterate that both you and Francisco Telemakak are both evil-minded and wicked and do not have the interest and welfare of Dominicans and the Government of Dominica at heart. With all this garbage you keep writing, all your thumbs up are from the stupid and senseless UWP supporters which is just in the minority.
Anytime anybody speaks the truth, you people term it hate!
Nevertheless, you all allow Roosevelt Chichi Royer Skerrit to get away with murder!
Right now Roosevelt is about passing law’s to compel people to take care of their older parents; grandmothers, mother’s and fathers too.
I am not saying that if one can afford it, they should not voluntarily help their elderly; but Dominica would be the only place on the planet with such draconian law!
I took care of my parents, mother, grandmother and sisters because I could afford to do so, till they died.
I do not know of any country governed or ruled by an autocracy, oligarchy; constitutional, authoritarian, totalitarian, never mind an democracy, were even a rouge government made it mandatory for children to take care of their elder parent.
So, as the first and only resilient country country in the world, Dominica is again going to be the only country in the world where it will me mandatory for people to take care of their parent…
Cont:
As I said there is nothing wrong about people looking after their aged parents; but in a place like Dominica, where people are born; live and die never worked on a regular job, have children to raise, why should a government burden such people with taking care of the aged?
You know, that scoundrel that corrupted crook, Roosevelt Skerrit it is alleged has billions, hence he believe that everybody in Dominica is as rich as he is; therefore these people must care for their elderly family from the oxygen they breath.
In the developed, world where there are industries, people work and contribute to a welfare system, and where people contributes to a social security in a system from which they get social security to live on; if that exists in Dominica, this ignorant clown Roosevelt would not come with such a stupid idea!
Dominicans need overthrow Roosevelt out of government , this man is an ignorant crook, who picked up some stupid idea, and is spewing it as if its gold.
A…
ADMIN I have emailed the illustrations to you.
In Roosevelt we have a doctor of everything master of nothing. This man is no educator, health practitioner, jurist, environmentalist nor leader. He is more of a real estate agent, selling huge parcels of our patrimony to the Chinese and fraudsters with deep pockets.
Roosevelt acts as if he is the minister directly responsible for all ministries. The man has a god complex. The man is not a competent minister of anything he is more of a mini-star of corruption.
He is the minister of of education too?
Education reform? no electoral reform. Reform of the former is to facilitate and accept the white-collar crimes committed by those who plunder the country of billions. Any citizen who dare speak about increase in violence and crimes of all sorts are ridiculed, pressured. Peter Tosh sang, “Tell me who are the real criminals.”
That’s the minister of EVERYTHING who does not know anything!!!!.
The hypocrite and showman who was Minister of Education.
The hypocrite and narcissist who has been Prime Minister for 19 years.
He just had an epiphany…!
Every ordinary Dominican had a concern about our school/education system, excrpt him….
He finally comes LAST after failing THOUSANDS of our young people, and he expects you all (not me for sure), to clap for him and to shout HOORAY!!!
A WICKED SOUL!!!
Where were you for 23 years Chi-Chi Bang Bang?
This country is in a fetid mess with this……..!
Chi-Chi